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Letter from Charles L. Powell, Jr [Henry, Ill] to a “Sister.”?
? January 1861
Powell Papers - 65 P875, Box II, Folder 5
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Henry Ills Jan 1861
My Dear Sister
This is at least the third letter that I have begun to you in the last six weeks and in each of the former ones I had to stop for lack of something to say, and who knows but that this one will have the same fate. I am sure I do not, as I know of nothing that happens in this part the world that will interest you atall. We are all very well here and at Uncle Richards except Miss Susan Jenkins and her Mother Mrs Powell who are not very well. Very little is going on in the City now trade is very dull and farmers are only getting twenty cents for their corn and fifteen for oats other grain being low in proportion and not much chance for improvement that I
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can see until everything is settled and the chances of a settlement look very slim just now. I expect we will have to give you all a good whipping yet before you will “keep still.”? What are you all going to do next summer for ice I would like to know as you will not have anything to do with us Yankees. I expect you will be glad enough to buy a little on a holiday with asking where it came from. Will you let me come back to see you all sometimes I will be almost afraid of being hung. I suppose there will be no danger though when I get my passport. I suppose I can get one in Wheeling. We all had the satisfaction of electing Mr McFadden as “Justice of the Peace”? the other day in opposition to a Republican, much to the surprise of both Democrats and Republicans. Mr. Charles Lock son of the Mr Lock that keeps the “Planters House”? was married a day or two ago to Miss Camp daughter of Mr. Abner Camp.
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I do not know whether you know either of them or not. Some three or four weeks ago one of the Miss Hutchins was married and also about the same time one of the Miss Wards who lives about three miles in the country. Do you know either of them I have forgotten who they were married to. We have had most delightful sleighing ever since Chrismas. Yesterday however it rained and washed all the snow away, but as it is snowing again to day I think we will have plenty more tomorrow. I have only been out twice and enjoyed myself very much indeed at one time I went with a party of ladies and gentlemen all together in a sled with a wagon bed on it full of Hay. The company consisted of Benj Andie Work (a clerk in Poll & Smith store) a Mr Hoggland. I suppose you have heard of some of them as they are as thick as blackberries around here who by the way was the owner of the sled and Mules. These were the gentlemen not forgetting myself. The ladies were Miss
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Maria and Emma Janney, Miss Pennie Scott, Miss Fannie Hamilton who is a great belle in the city as she is said to be worth about Eighty thousand Dollars and Miss Ellen Green. A pretty full load I can tell you We went down to Mr Charles Nocks where we warmed our selves and started back in high spirits, in the mean time the moon had risen and every thing looked most beautiful we got back about ten oclock all of us agreeing that it was the most pleasant ride any of us had had. I wish you all had been along we could have made room for you easily. The river is frozen over very hard and wagons are crossing on the ice loaded with wood and grain Thank Pa for the sermon he sent me I read it and think it is a very fine sermon tho the Preacher was a Republican. I read the sermon you speak of that was delivered in New Orleans. It was most too
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ultra though I thought. Give my love to all at home I hope I will never be so long answering your letters hereafter. Write soon to your affectionate Brother C L Powell Jr
Brother Lloyd send his love to all
